Program of Events


Swarthmoor Hall offers a variety of organised events throughout out the year.
 
Our programme events offer a unique opportunity to stay at one of the sites central to early Quaker history, and participants have access to the historic rooms in the Hall.

It is usually possible to have an (optional) guided tour during the course of your stay.

For more information on an event please click more information for the event you are interested in. Events are listed in date order.
Swarthmoor Hall contact details available here

Payment details and Terms and conditions available here.

Swarthmoor Hall 2010 Programme

Event Name Start Date End date  
Swarthmoor Interfaith group tbc   More information
Membership Weekend 12 March 14 March More information
Experiment with Light 16 April 18 April More information
Drystone Walling 19 April 22 April More information
The Jizz & the Jazz 4 May 7 May More information
Enquirer's Day 8 May 8 May More information
Quaker Voluntary Action  - Working Retreat 10 May 14 May More information
Enquirer's Weekend Gathering 14 May 16 May More information
In Fox's Footsteps 7 June 10 June More information
Belonging & Exile 18 June 20 June More information
Experiment with Light 16 July 18 July More information
In Fox's Footsteps 16 Aug 19 Aug  
 Retreat - Experiment with Light 27 Aug 30Aug  
Experiment with Light 10 Sept 12 Sept  
Journaling Retreat 20 Sept 23 Sept  
Becoming Friends 1 Oct 3 Oct  
Enquirer's Weekend Gathering 8 Oct 10 Oct  
Quaker Voluntary Action  - Working Retreat 18 Oct 21 Oct  
Enquirer's Day 4 Dec 4 Dec  

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Title: SWARTHMOOR INTERFAITH GROUP
Brief description:  
Date:  
With:  
Description: 10.30 am arrivals and tea and coffee.

10.45  

11.30   Silence

12.00   Emmaus Walk

12.45   Lunch to share

2.00    

2.45      Silence  

3.15      Tea and ends 

Start / end time 10.30 am  to 3.15 pm ending with tea.
Price: Suggested donation £10 and please bring lunch to share
Contact details: Michael Jackson
16 Old Market Place,
ALTRINGHAM, Cheshire.
WA14 4DD

0161-928-8111 e-mail:
enquiries@whlill.co.uk

or Contact Swarthmoor Hall Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204.
Details here

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Title: Membership Weekend
Brief description: A gathering for those who want to find out more about being a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers)
Date: 12-14 March
With: A team from the Quaker Life Outreach network
Description: An informal and friendly gathering to look at the different issues arising as someone contemplates  membership. There will be lots of time to ask questions and share thoughts and queries, in small groups and all together in one group.
Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: £150 Residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                         sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Experiment with Light 1
Brief description:

This weekend is for Friends who want to deepen their Quaker experience by discovering what it means to ‘wait in the Light’.

Date:

 16-18 April

With: A team of facilitators led by Helen Meads from the Light Group network  
Description:

Our faith as Quakers is based on experience, rather than on authority or doctrine. But what is the experience? We shall consider first what the experience was at the beginning of our movement. We shall then undertake an experiment to see if that experience is still available to us.

Finally, we shall reflect on the significance of the Light for our lives today. This can be a searching and powerful experience. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the Quaker experience, but also a surprising new insight into themselves.

 

The weekend is based on the findings of Rex Ambler who has travelled widely among Friends giving talks & workshops on Quaker faith & practice, and Helen Meads, who has researched the topic and facilitated many workshops for those wanting to know more . Rex has also written books on George Fox & Quaker spirituality.

 
Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: Cost: £150 residential only
   
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Drystone Walling for Beginners
Brief description: Learning the basic skills to rebuild a drystone wall
Date: 19-22 April
With: Bill Shaw
Description: An enjoyable but fairly strenuous event for those who want to learn and practice the basic skills in building drystone walls. The group will rebuild part of a wall in the gardens and grounds of the Hall.

There are only 6 places available on the event.

Start / end time Starts 4pm Monday  and ends after lunch on Thursday.
Price: Cost: £120 residential, £95 non-residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: The Jizz and the Zazz
Brief description: How to recognise birds & attempt to understand their songs & calls.
Date: 4-7 May
With: Roy Adams
Description: A wonderful opportunity to experience the dawn chorus in and around the Hall grounds on the first full day. This will be followed by breakfast , then off to visit Leighton Moss RSPB reserve by train.

The second full day will be spent visiting the two reserves on Walney Island. One is a Cumbria Wildlife Trust reserve and the other is English nature. A minibus will be used for this day.

Good outdoor clothing and binoculars needed to take advantage of the two days.

Start / end time Starts 4pm Tuesday  and ends after breakfast on Friday.
Price: £200 Residential, including train fares and minibus.
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Enquirer's Day
Brief description: A day for Enquirer's to find out more about Quakers.
Date: 8 May
With: Swarthmoor Hall staff team
Description: An informal and friendly day gathering for anyone wanting to find out more about Quakerism. You will be able to meet Quakers and hear of their spiritual journeys. There will be a time to share your journey with the group as far as you are able. there will be general discussion on worship, the Advices & Queries and the Testimonies.

There will be time to discuss queries and questions that participants have and try to find  answers to them. All in a supportive and confidential atmosphere.

Start / end time 9.30 for tea and coffee 10am first session. Ends  4pm with tea and coffee.
Price: £20 including lunch and drinks.
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Quaker Voluntary Action  - Working Retreat
Brief description: A week of work and worship at Swarthmoor Hall
Date: 10-14 May
With: A facilitator from Quaker Voluntary Action
Description: A mixture of working in the grounds and buildings at the Hall and spiritual exploring in the group. A comfortable and supportive "community" grows over the week for sharing and mutual support. The atmosphere at the Hall lends itself so well to this work.
Start / end time Gathering on Monday 10 May from 4pm onwards and ending after breakfast on Friday 14 May
Price: £75 Residential
Contact details:

Jasmine Piercy for further

information and application form.

07910 434941   

 

 

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Title: Enquirer's Weekend Gathering
Brief description: A weekend for those enquiring about Quakers and Quakerism.
Date: 14-16 May
With: A team from the Quaker Life Outreach Network
Description:

The gathering is informal & friendly. Topics covered include basic convictions, the form of worship, and the testimonies that spring from them. Two or three facilitators will be present to talk about their own experiences in their spiritual journeys and how they became Quakers

 
start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
price: £150 residential
Contact details: Contact Carmel Keogh at Quaker Life, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London. NW1 2BJ

020- 7663-1017    carmelk@quaker.org.uk

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Title: In Fox's Footsteps, 1652 Country Pilgrimage
Brief description: Tour of the important sites in George Fox's visit to the North west of England in 1652
Date: 7-10 June
With: Guides from the Quaker Life network & 1652 Committee
Description:

A residential guided event for anyone who wants to learn about the early history of Quakerism and how it relates to our faith today, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

An introductory talk on Monday will give a background to the happenings of 1652. There will be an opportunity to climb Pendle Hill and experience a Meeting for Worship at the top. The event will also include visits to Brigflatts, Firbank Fell (and the Quaker Tapestry) on Wednesday and Swarthmoor Meeting House, Sunbrick burial Ground on Thursday. A tour of Swarthmoor Hall itself will take place during the event.

This event will allow individuals to become part of an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group as it unfolds.

A minibus will be used to travel to the different sites.

Start / end time Starts 4pm Monday 7 June and ends after Lunch on Thursday 10 July
Price: Cost: £210 residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Belonging and Exile
Brief description: Themes in the life of the spirit
Date: 18-20 June
With: Harvey Gillman, formerly Outreach Secretary of Britain Yearly Meeting, and Rowntree Quaker Fellow, has written widely on spirituality and language, and is a regular facilitator at Quaker and ecumenical weekends. He has also been involved in a spiritual direction network.
Description:

Where do we feel at home?

Where do we feel we belong?

Home, belonging, and a sense of exile are key experiences in the life of many people. They also furnish powerful metaphors in the development of our spiritual growth.       This weekend will explore these themes through times of sharing our own experiences and those of writers, painters, and musicians from various religious traditions. 

 

Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: £150 Residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Experiment with Light 1
Brief description:

This weekend is for Friends who want to deepen their Quaker experience by discovering what it means to ‘wait in the Light’.

Date:

 16-18 July

With: A team of facilitators led by Catherine Ambler from the Light Group network  
Description:

Our faith as Quakers is based on experience, rather than on authority or doctrine. But what is the experience? We shall consider first what the experience was at the beginning of our movement. We shall then undertake an experiment to see if that experience is still available to us.

Finally, we shall reflect on the significance of the Light for our lives today. This can be a searching and powerful experience. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the Quaker experience, but also a surprising new insight into themselves.

 

The weekend is based on the findings of Rex Ambler who has travelled widely among Friends giving talks & workshops on Quaker faith & practice, and Helen Meads, who has researched the Experiment, and facilitated many workshops for those wanting to know more. Rex has also written books on George Fox & Quaker spirituality.

 
start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
price: Cost: £150 residential only
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: In Fox's Footsteps, 1652 Country Pilgrimage
Brief description: Tour of the important sites in George Fox's visit to the North west of England in 1652
Date: 16-18 August
With: Guides from the Quaker Life network & 1652 Committee
Description:

A residential guided event for anyone who wants to learn about the early history of Quakerism and how it relates to our faith today, based at Swarthmoor Hall in the heart of the 1652 country.

An introductory talk on Monday will give a background to the happenings of 1652. There will be an opportunity to climb Pendle Hill and experience a Meeting for Worship at the top. The event will also include visits to Brigflatts, Firbank Fell (and the Quaker Tapestry) on Wednesday and Swarthmoor Meeting House, Sunbrick burial Ground on Thursday. A tour of Swarthmoor Hall itself will take place during the event.

This event will allow individuals to become part of an organised pilgrimage and worshipping group as it unfolds.

A minibus will be used to travel to the different sites.

Start / end time Starts 4pm Monday 16 August and ends after Lunch on Thursday 18 August.
Price: Cost: £210 residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title:  Retreat - Experiment with Light
Brief description:

A retreat based on early Friends’ experience, and printmaking.

Date: 27-30 August
With: Andrea Freeman & Helen Meads
Description:

A retreat focusing on the stepped process of Experiment with Light, based on early Friends' practice.   Express and deepen your experiences creatively through printmaking within the beauty, history and spirituality of Swarthmoor Hall, cradle of Quakerism.  Experience silence, group sharing and spiritual friendship.
No experience of Experiment with Light or printmaking is necessary, just be prepared to absorb the atmosphere, explore spiritually and enjoy printmaking.

Start / end time Starts 4 pm Friday afternoon and ends after lunch on Monday
Price: Cost £175 Residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Experiment with Light 2
Brief description:

This weekend is for Friends who want to deepen their Quaker experience by discovering what it means to ‘wait in the Light’.

Date:

 10-12 September

With: A team of facilitators led by Helen Meads from the Light Group network  
Description:

Our faith as Quakers is based on experience, rather than on authority or doctrine. But what is the experience? We shall consider first what the experience was at the beginning of our movement. We shall then undertake an experiment to see if that experience is still available to us.

Finally, we shall reflect on the significance of the Light for our lives today. This can be a searching and powerful experience. Participants should gain a deeper understanding of the Quaker experience, but also a surprising new insight into themselves.

 

The weekend is based on the findings of Rex Ambler who has travelled widely among Friends giving talks & workshops on Quaker faith & practice, and Helen Meads, who has researched the Experiment, and facilitated many workshops for those wanting to know more. Rex has also written books on George Fox & Quaker spirituality.

 
Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: £150 Residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Journaling Retreat
Brief description: Connecting our inner and outer lives
Date: 20-23 September
With: Judith Smith & Meg Dixon                                       
Description:

A chance to try journaling as a way of reflecting on and exploring your spiritual journey so far and the directions it might take in the future.  There will be plenty of opportunity to reflect and write in silence, to share with others, and to experiment with creative approaches to journaling. 

Judith Smith, a member of the Quaker Retreat Group, was formerly a lecturer and tutor in literature in adult and higher education.  Since retirement she has become particularly interested in spiritual reflection through writing, running a “Writing the Spirit” group in her Local Meeting and facilitating retreats and other events.  

Meg Dixon, also a member of the Quaker Retreat Group, has a background in teaching, then counselling, where journaling was encouraged.  Since retirement, she offers spiritual direction and leads Quiet Days and retreats, both for Friends and ecumenically, where the value of journaling to enable spiritual life is always a focus.

Start / end time Starts 4pm Monday  and ends after Lunch on Thursday.
Price: £175 Residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Becoming a Friend companion course
Brief description: This weekend course is for experienced Friends offering service as Becoming Friends companions.
Date: 1-3 October
With:

Ginny Wall and Ruth Quinn

 
Description:

Becoming Friends: Living & Learning with Quakers is an innovative learning project from Woodbrooke and Quaker Life, which aims to nurture and support those who are new to Friends. It will help newcomers develop an understanding of Quakerism, while exploring their own journey, through engagement with flexible learning materials, on-line discussion groups and support from a network of ‘companions’ in local meetings.

 

This weekend course is for experienced Friends offering service as Becoming Friends companions: it will introduce you to the Becoming Friends materials and help you prepare for this interesting and rewarding role.

 

There will be leaflets and information about Becoming Friends available for you to take back to your meetings after the course. If you are a computer user and want to take a copy of a brief powerpoint presentation about Becoming Friends back to your meeting, please feel free to bring a pen drive/usb memory stick with you to save it onto.

 
Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: £125 Residential, £95 non-residential
Contact details: 01229-583204                                         sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Enquirer's Weekend Gathering
Brief description: A weekend for those enquiring about Quakers and Quakerism.
Date: 8-10 October
With: A team from the Quaker Life Outreach Network
Description:

The gathering is informal & friendly. Topics covered include basic convictions, the form of worship, and the testimonies that spring from them. Two or three facilitators will be present to talk about their own experiences in their spiritual journeys and how they became Quakers

 
Start / end time Starts 4pm Friday  and ends after lunch on Sunday.
Price: £150 residential
Contact details: Contact Carmel Keogh at Quaker Life, Friends House, 173 Euston Road, London. NW1 2BJ

020- 7663-1017    carmelk@quaker.org.uk

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Title: Quaker Voluntary Action  - Working Retreat
Brief description: A week of work and worship at Swarthmoor Hall
Date: 18-21 October
With: A facilitator from Quaker Voluntary Action
Description: A mixture of working in the grounds and buildings at the Hall and spiritual exploring in the group. A comfortable and supportive "community" grows over the week for sharing and mutual support. The atmosphere at the Hall lends itself so well to this work.
Start / end time Gathering on Monday  from 4pm onwards and ending after breakfast on Friday
Price: £75 Residential
Contact details:

Jasmine Piercy for further information and application form. 07910 434941

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Title: Card making day
Brief description: A day making greetings cards using a simple print method.
Date: Saturday 6 November
With: Andrea Freeman
Description:  
Start / end time 9.30 am for tea & coffee, first session 10am. Ends with tea at 4pm
Price: £35 including lunch and drinks, and materials.
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Title: Enquirer's Day
Brief description: A day for Enquirer's to find out more about Quakers.
Date: 4 December
With: Swarthmoor Hall staff team
Description: An informal and friendly day gathering for anyone wanting to find out more about Quakerism. You will be able to meet Quakers and hear of their spiritual journeys. There will be a time to share your journey with the group as far as you are able. there will be general discussion on worship, the Advices & Queries and the Testimonies.

There will be time to discuss queries and questions that participants have and try to find  answers to them. All in a supportive and confidential atmosphere.

Start / end time 9.30 for tea and coffee 10am first session. Ends  4pm with tea and coffee.
Price: £20 including lunch and drinks.
Contact details: 01229-583204                                          sylvia@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Contact details:

Swarthmoor Hall,
Ulverston,
Cumbria
LA12 0JQ

Tel: +44 (0)1229 583204

e-mail:
info@swarthmoorhall.co.uk

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Paying for an event:

Please see individual events.
Swarthmoor Hall is not in a position to offer bursaries. Please contact your local Meeting Overseers.

A £30 non-returnable deposit is required on booking, with remainder paid 4 weeks before the event.

If you have to cancel, refunds are as follows:
 

  • 4 weeks before the start of the event - full refund minus £30 non-returnable deposit.
  • 1- 4 weeks - 50% refund of total individual cost.
  • Less than 1 week - no refund can be given.



We can accommodate up to 16 people in single and twin-bedded rooms. Swarthmoor Hall is also available for groups of people who might wish to organise their own events - retreats, workshops - either on a self-catering or fully - catered basis. Some events may offer non-residential places.

When not taken up with programme events, the Hall welcomes bookings for our residential accommodation, which comprises three self-catering holiday units of five beds, five beds, and four beds. One of these units is suitable for wheelchair users.

We also have Bed & Breakfast for individuals or small groups when there is space available.

If you require any further details about the Programme or letting accommodation, please contact the staff at Swarthmoor Hall.

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